Slider for separable fasteners



May 31, 193%.. v. PUC 2,119,352

SLIDER FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS Filed Aug. 25, 1936 lNY/ENTO VoJEof/ Pac I www oRNEYs Patented May 3l, 1938 SLIDER FOR SEPARABLE FASTENRS Vojtch Pue, Prague-Vinohrady, Czechoslovakia, assigner to -Waldes Koh-I-Noor, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 25, 193s, serial No. 97,730 In Czechoslovakia December 7, 1935 6 Claims. (Cl. 2li-205)A My invention relates to fasteners of the slide- `operated type having rows of interlocking elements mounted on exible fabric tapes or stringers. More particularly my invention relates to distortion-resisting means rigidly built-in or `forming part of the slider for automatically preventing unintended self-actuated movement of the slider in a direction parallel lto the opening between the interlocking elements in a direction toward the elements which are interlocked, such movement being frequently induced when the fabric tapes or stringers are spread apart at their free ends, for instance, by a force supplied laterally at or beyond the point where the elements are interlocked.

For convenience, I will, in -this specification, refer to that part of the structure where the stringers are united, whether the elements are in locked or unlocked position, as the lower portion of the structure, while the opposite end will be referred to as the upper portion, and simi- V larly, that portion of the slider which extends in where the elements are locked together.

projection depends is, in use, the top or the bottom plate.

In the usual construction of slide fasteners of the interlocking type there is employed' a slider having lateralflanges, and an inner triangular member, said slider straddling the fastener elements, the flanges serving as camming elements, so that when the slider is pulled along the Stringer tapes toward the upper portion of the structure, the elements will be caused to interlock, whereas, when moved in the opposite direction, the elements will be caused to become unlocked. However, the slider can be self-actuated by a lateral pull upon the stringers at points beyond the slider, so that the fastener structure becomes opened, any further pull upon the stringers aggravating the condition. Means for locking the slider in position such as a pin forming a part of the pull member of the slider have heretofore been used but this type of structure requires volitional action bythe operator in making it effective to perform its function. It has also been suggested' to bend or notch the forwardy edges of the slider flanges in a direction toward the longitudinal axis of the slider, but this type of structure proved impractical in that its effectiveness was soon destroyed by the frictional contact 5 with the elements. l

It is the object of my inventionv to provide means for preventing the unintended, self-actuated movement of the slider by a construction of the slider which is such that it becomes auto- 10 matically and reliably locked against movement,

i. e. Without the necessity of any volitional action on the part of the operator, whenever the slider is brought to rest in its position after interlocking the fastenery elements, preventing movement l5 of the slider in the direction of the opening when anyforce is applied laterally of the stringers, either at the position of the slider or at points above such position.

My novel structure of slider, while effectively 20 performing the automatic locking function just described, is not in any manner hindered in its sliding movement when performing its function as a camming member in interlocking the fastener-elements. Nor is its free movement during the unlocking of the fastener elements interfered with in any manner. The slider is capable of being shifted in either direction along the edges of the stringers by a slight force applied to the slider longitudinally of such edges, but will auto- 30 matically be prevented from any unintentional movement along the edges of the stringers by any force applied laterally of such edges.

In accordance with my invention I provide the slider with integral dependent portions in the region of its upper end, said dependent portions extending in a direction from one of the slider plates toward the other as distinguished from a structure in which the dependent element-engaging projections extend toward the longitudinal axis of the slider. This feature of the new construction results in a strengthenedk or buttressed condition of the dependent portions in that, when such dependent portions are constituted of bent metal, the line of the bend will stand at right angles to the longitudinal `axis of the individual elements While when the dependent portions are formed by punching, they obtain their necessary strength and rigidity from the circumstance that they are hollow and therefore, like a tube, stronger than a corresponding pin or rod.`

In accordance with one embodiment of my invention I provide forward of the slider flanges which form the cammingchannel, depending projections which establish notches betweenthemselves and the slider flanges, such projections being adapted to become interposed between successive fastener elements when the stringers are forcibly spread apart, in which event one of the fastener elements will enter the notch and abut against the face of the projection. In this embodiment of the invention the dependent portions and notches appear forward of both of the flanges of the slider. Such structure is adapted for use with a slide fastener arrangement of the usual type in which the tops as well as the bottoms of the interlocking elements are exposed.

In the type of fastener structure in which the Vinterlocking elements are covered by a fabric ma:

terial when they have been interlocked, to which a second embodiment of my invention is applicable, the dependent projections and notches appear only on the bottom wing or plate of the slider. This construction prevents the tearing of the coveringfabric.

In accordance with a third embodiment of my invention, the automatic locking of the slider in position against the eiect of any lateral force applied to the stringers, is accomplished by providing'a plurality of indentations upon the surface or surfaces of one or both Wings of the slider, 4

which indentations provide a round-surfaced projection extending from the inner faces of the wings of the slider, effective to become interposed between successive interlocking elements and thus secure the slider from unintended, self-actuated movement in a direction parallel to the opening between the interlocking elements when any force is applied to the stringers laterally of the opening. For application to a slide fastener structure of the covered type, only the bottom wing or plate of the slider should be provided with the indentations.

In the accompanying drawing these embodi-- ments of my invention are illustrated. In such drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a slide-fastener structure embodying my invention with part of the slider shown in section; Fig. 2 is a side view of the slider; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of the fabric-covered type of slide fastener structure; Fig. 4 is a side view of the slider constructed in accordance with' the second embodiment of my invention; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of a slide fastener to which the third embodiment of my invention is applied, the slider being shown as viewed from the bottom face thereof; and Fig. 6 is a side view of the slider shown in Fig. 5 with a portion thereof cut away to show the indentation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, in which similar reference characters identify similar parts, the slide fastener structure comprises a pair of tapes or stringers having fabric `portions 1 and 8 and rows of spaced interlocking fastener elements 9 and I0 along their adjacent longitudinal edges, which elements are adapted to be successively brought together and progressively interlocked by means of the slider I I. The slider illustrated is constituted of spaced top and bottom wings or plates I2 and I3 respectively, connected by an integral wedging and spacing portion I4 and a .pull member I5 connected to the top wing of the slider by means of a bridge I6. The lateral edges of the slider wings I2 and I3 are bent inwardly to provide the guide flanges I1 and I8 on opposite sides of the slider and these flanges form, in conjunction with the wedging portion I4, a channel having diverging portions for receiving the fastener elements 9 and I0.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, dependent portions 2l and 22 and and notches I9 and 20 are incorporated.

When the slider II has been brought to the position in which it has interlocked the elements 9 and I0 to the length desired and any lateral pull is exerted upon the tapes or stringers 1 and 8, the projections 2| and 22 become interposed between two successive fastener elements, the lower of such successive fastener elements entering into the notches I9 and 20. As a lateral pull is exerted upon the stringers 'I and 8, the heel portions of the lower of such successive fastener elements are automatically, and without any volitional movement on the part of the operator, brought into abutting relation with the lower edges of the projections 2| and 22, preventing any unintended and self-actuated movement of the slider II and therefore separation of the interlocked fastener elements.

It is to be noted that the projections 2l and 22 become interposed between successive fastener elements only upon the exertion of any lateral pull upon the stringers 'I and 8, but are otherwise clear of the heel portions of such fastener elements so that free movement of the slider in performing its function of interlocking the fastener elements is not interfered with so long as the pull upon such slider is induced by a force exerted longitudinally of the slider, namely in a direction parallel to the opening of the slider structure.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention particularly advantageous in its application to a slide fastener structure of the covered type. In such structure the edges of the tapes or stringers 'I and 8 extend over the interlocking elements 9 and II), so as to conceal completely the same, in the closed position of the fastener structure by the overlying strips 23, 24 formed by the edge portions of the stringers. Such strips 23, 24 are secured in place in any manner, now well known, for instance, by lines of stitching (not shown).

The slider for such fastener structure is substantially like that illustrated in the first embodiment of my invention, with the exception that the wing or plate of the slider arranged for movement over the covering stripsv 23 andl has its flanges 25 and 26 cut oif from the upper edge of the wing to a point somewhat removed therefrom (at 2l), such cut-o permitting the flange to move freely over the cover-strip, the restraining of unintended movement of the slider, when lateral pull is exerted upon the stringers, being accomplished by the notches I9 and projection 2l upon the flange of the bottom plate of the slider.

Another form of means effective to lock automatically the slider" against unintended movement longitudinally over the interlocking elements when lateral pull is applied to the stringers, is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. In such embodiment of my invention the lower wing or under plate 28 is provided at the points of juncture of the flanges 29 with the inclined edges 30, 3| of the slider, with indentations 32, the material of the slider wings being depressed to an extent sufficient to form the depending projection or protuberances 33 extending inwardly from such lower wing or under plate 28. l

The depth of the projections 33 in Figs. 5 and 6 is restricted so that in the normal movement of the slider to lock or unlock the elements, there is no contact between 33 and the elemens 9, I0. When, however, a lateral pull is exerted upon the stringers at or beyond the'slider, the eiiect of 2,119,352 such a pull is to twist the elements on theV stringers and this brings them into contacting relation with respect to the projections 33. Once this condition has been established, i. e. Where a, projection 33 lies in the path of the next lower element, and the element has been turned into the projection-engaging position as the result of a lateral pull on the fabric, the projections 33 lock the slider against further movement in a. direction tending to unlock the locked elements further down. The greater the force applied to the stringers, tending to spread them, the greater will be the extent to which the elements will ex-A tend into the region of the protuberances 33 and therefore the more certain the prevention of unintended movement of the slider from its fixed position in which it holds the fastener elements interlocked becomes.

It is to be noted that in this'embodiment of my invention also,as in the two first embodiments described, the provision of the means for locking the slider against unintended' movementin one direction, does n ot, in any manner, interfere with the normal functioning of such slider. Thus, if the stringers 1 and 8 are not spread apart by any force exerted laterally thereof, the indentations upon the slider haveno effect upon its normal movement over the fastener elements, such indentations, andtherefore the protuberances extending from the under plate on the opposite face thereof, being out of the aligned positions of the fastener elements and hence the latter,

are unaffected by such indentations or protuberances.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is ideally adapted for application to a covered type of fastener structure in which case the means for'preventing the spreading of the stringers, and therefore the unintended movement of the slider, are provided only upon the lower wing or under plate of the slider, where they cannot tear the covering fabric strips or the stitching employed in securing the same in y place.

I claim: v 1. A` slider for a slide fastener of the type which l includesA a pair of stringers having rows of spaced interlocking elements along their adjacent longitudinal edges, comprising in combination a pair of spaced top and bottom plates, camming flanges depending from at least one of said slider plates and means independent of manual operation of the slider for preventing the unintended self-actuated movement of the slider when forces tending to spread the stringers apart are applied laterally thereto at pointsbeypnd the interlocked portions of the elements, comprising projections integral with the upper portion of and projecting from the surface of at least one of the slider plates toward the opposite plate, said projections being of the ibuttressed type, i. e. so formed that their resistance to deformation is at least as great in line with the longi-tudinal path of the rows of elements as in a line transverse to the length of such rows, and being disposed outside' of the normal path of the outer edges of .the interlocking elements but closely adjacent vto such path, whereby when lateral pull is applied to the stringers beyond the interlocked position of the elements, the projections will extend into the path of the elements as they tendto move from the locked to the interlocked position.

2. A slider for a' slide fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers having rows of spaced interlocking elements along their adjacent longitudinal edges, comprising in combination a pair of spaced top and bottom plates, camming flanges disposed substantially perpendicular to'at least one of said slider plates forinterlocking the elements of the fastener when the slider is moved along the stringers in the direction of its upper portion; and means for preventing the unintended self-actuated movement of the slider in the other direction when forces tending to spread the slider apart are applied laterally thereto at points beyond the interlocked portions of the elements, comprising projections provided ontheupper portion of the slider in alignment with the camming flanges of a slider and spaced from the upper edge portions of said flanges for a distance `equal to at least the space representedbythe transverse dimension of one of the interlocking elements, all so4 assembled and arranged that when lateral pull is applied to the stringers beyond the interlocked position of the elementsthe depend' ing projections will extend into the path of the elements as they tend to move from the locked to the unlocked position. A

3. A slider such as described in claim 1 in which the projections project both from the top as well as from the bottom plates of the slider.

4. A slider such as described in claim 1 in which the projections are formed inthe bottom plate only of the slider. K

5. A slider such as described in claim 2 in which the projections are bent parts of one of the plates of the slider said projections extending toward theopposite plate of the slider and the line' of the bend runs in a, direction which approximately 'parallels the longitudinal path of the fastenery elements past said projections.

6. A slider such as described in claim 1 in which the projections are in the form of hollow depressed protuberances.

voJ'rcH PUC. 

